Conclusion
Our results showed that miR6511a-5p-NT5E interaction plays an important role in COPD, which might be associated with cell-cell contact, activation of leukocytes, activation of T lymphocytes, and cellular homeostasis. These findings provide new information for further investigations of the COPD microenvironment, and may help to develop new diagnostic or therapeutic strategies targeting the bronchial epithelium for COPD.
Methods
In order to investigate the microRNA-mRNA interaction in the microenvironment of the COPD airway, we used next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics in this study.
Results
We identified four genes with microRNA-mRNA interactions involved in COPD small-airway bronchial epithelial cells: NT5E, SDK1, TNS1, and PCDH7. Furthermore, miR6511a-5p-NT5E interaction was found to be involved in small-airway bronchial epithelial cells, large-airway bronchial epithelial cells, and alveolar macrophages.